RECARBONATION

According to Wang , recarbonation is defined as (a) the process of introducing carbon dioxide,
CO2, as a final stage in the lime-soda ash softening process in order to convert carbonates to
bicarbonates and thereby stabilize the solution against precipitation of carbonates, (b) the diffusion of
carbon dioxide gas through liquid to replace the carbon dioxide gas removed by the addition of lime, or
(c) the diffusion of carbon dioxide through a liquid to render the liquid stable with respect to
precipitation or dissolution of alkaline constituents. The process is accomplished by bubbling gases
containing carbon dioxide (CO2) through water. This chapter introduces the recarbonation process, its
closely related lime/soda-ash softening process, and various applications of recarbonation.

Water, as it is found in nature, usually contains some CO2, which comes most likely from the
decomposition of organic matter or from the atmosphere. The CO2 hydrolyzes according to Eq. (1):

CO2 +H2O=H2CO3

to form carbonic acid (H2CO3 ). In turn the H2CO3 dissociates

H2CO3=H+ + HCO3-

to form bicarbonate ion (HCO3 ) which in turn dissociates further

HCO3= H+ +CO32-

to form the carbonate ion (CO3 2).

The degree of the two dissociations is dependent primarily on the pH and somewhat on
temperature and the ionic content of the water.

The Effect of Temperature on the Formation of Sulfur Trioxide.

The formation of sulfur trioxide is reversible.

The forward reaction (from left to right) is exothermic

(compare this with the formation of ammonia in the Haber process).

sulfur dioxide + oxygen sulphur trioxide

2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g)

Increasing the temperature will increase the rate of the reaction but decrease the amount
of sulfur trioxide in the equilibrium mixture.

The temperature of 450 C is a compromise between the amount of sulfur trioxide in

the equilibrium mixture and the rate at which sulfur trioxide is formed.

The temperature of 450 C gives the best yield of sulfur trioxide.

The Effect of Pressure on the Formation of Sulfur Trioxide.

The formation of sulfur trioxide is reversible.

sulfur dioxide + oxygen sulfur trioxide

2SO2(g) + O2(g) 2SO3(g)

Increasing the pressure will increase the rate of the reaction and increase the amount of sulfur
trioxide in the equilibrium mixture.

A high pressure will give the best yield of sulfur trioxide.

The reaction is run at between 1 and 2 atmospheres which gives 99% conversion of sulfur
dioxide to sulfur trioxide.

How is Sulfur trioxide made into Sulfuric Acid?

Sulfur trioxide will dissolve in water to make sulfuric acid.

This is the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of sulfur trioxide with water.

sulfur trioxide + water sulfuric acid

SO3(g) + H2O(l) H2SO4(aq)

The reaction is highly exothermic and produces an acid mist which

is difficult to condense into sulfuric acid.

In industry it is easier to dissolve sulfur trioxide in concentrated (98%) sulfuric acid to form oleum
(oleum is sometimes called fuming sulfuric acid).

This is the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of sulfur trioxide with sulfuric acid.

sulfur trioxide + sulfuric acid oleum

SO3(g) + H2SO4(aq) H2S2O7(l)

Water is carefully added to oleum to remake concentrated (98%) sulfuric acid.

This is the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of oleum with water.

oleum + water sulfuric acid

H2S2O7(l) + H2O(l) 2H2SO4(aq)